The killing of the 27-year-old African American, Walter Wallace Jr. on 26th October 2020 by Philadelphia police officers sent the city into days of protests resulting in violent clashes. Thus, the violent clashes saw at least 50 police officers injured and hundreds of protesters were arrested.
He was shot dead by two police officers while carrying a knife, but his family said he had mental issues. His family claimed that police offers have been to their house before the shooting incident, but the police authorities have not responded to the claims.
Before his death, the 27-year-old Philadelphian was battling mental issues. Below are shocking details about the killing and aftermath.
Who Is Walter Wallace Jr.?
He was born in 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to his mother and father, Walter Wallace Sr. Prior to his death, the deceased was suffering from bipolar disorder and was having a crisis during the time of the shooting.
As a result of his condition, the slain Philadelphian was under a doctor’s care and was being treated for his mental health issues. He was married to Dominique, with whom he was expecting a baby girl before the shooting incident that led to his death.
He was laid to rest in North Philadelphia after a funeral service was held at National Temple Baptist Church on the 1600 block of Master Street.
How The Shooting Began
According to a CNN report, the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. took place on Monday, 26th October 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The episode began with an emergency call about a man holding a knife. The officers who went to the area saw him waving it carelessly.
A man identified as JaHiem Simpson, who recorded the video of the shooting revealed that there was some uproar and arguments before police were invited. He said the deceased came out of the house with a knife and was told to put it down. Next, he saw the officers going for their guns when they saw the knife.
The recorded video which went viral at the time shows the deceased walking near a car parked into the street, towards the officers, while they shifted backward. Then, they fire multiple rounds at him. After he was shot, an officer rushed him in his car to Presbyterian Hospital, where he passed on.
According to the deceased’s family attorney, Shaka Johnson, the family made three emergency phone calls to Philadelphia authorities for an ambulance. While the deceased’s mother reveals that police officers were in the house earlier.
Though there were reports saying the police came to the deceased’s house thrice, there is no confirmation on the number of times the police responded. And neither did the police authorities reveal whether their officers were there earlier in the day or had interacted with the deceased before the shooting incident.
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Violence Erupted In Philadephia After The Death Of Walter Wallce Jr.
Following his death, many took to the streets in protest against the police’s excessive use of force. However, the protests which went on for days spiraled into looting and destruction in some parts of the city. Some of the businesses that were looted include, Walmart, Lowe’s, and a Five Below.
The city authorities imposed two overnight curfews during the crisis, and the National Guard was also invited as a backup to the city’s state police. Nevertheless, 57 police officers were injured during the violent clashes with protesters, and 212 people were arrested. The charges bother on assault on police and burglary.
Who Were The Officers Involved In The Shooting?
The Philadelphia authorities revealed the identities of the officers that were involved in the shooting incident as Sean Matarazzo and Thomas Munz. The former joined the city’s police department in 2018, while the latter had been with the unit since 2017.
Consequently, the two officers were placed on “restrictive duty” pending the outcome of investigations. Similarly, authorities promised that training measures would be put in place to help police officers defuse mental health problems.
One Year After His Death
A year after the death of Wallace, police authorities in Philadelphia say officers will now carry tasers, and also undergo training on how to operate it. This is because the Philadelphia man met his death at the hands of officers who were not armed with tasers.
Since the shooting, his family has been advocating for tasers to be an additional measure. The decision is part of an agreement between the city and the deceased’s family who have pushed for non-lethal options for police.
Before now, it wasn’t mandatory for officers to go through training for a taser. But, in the next 2 years, police officers in the city will undergo training on how to use it.
Likewise, a small percentage of the city’s police department budget will be dedicated to providing officers with teasers.
Philadelphia City Will Pay $2.5 Million To The Deceased’s Family
As part of a settlement for a wrongful death lawsuit, the City of Philadelphia will pay the sum of $2.5 million to the family of Walter Wallace Jr. The sum is the largest the city has paid in the case of an armed person shot and killed by police. This development came two days after police authorities announced that henceforth, all officers will be armed with tasers.
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